Review: The Carlyle New York, A Rosewood Hotel

What a silly little gym with that toy 80s trampoline.

For those of us with a lot more gray hair than you, the Cafe Carlyle was synonymous with the legendary Bobby Short. He was a featured performer there for more than 35 years.

The absolute best part of Central Park, IMO—the Conservatory Water—is just a couple blocks away. Great place to relax and spend an afternoon; it’s basically my backyard. My only caveat with this location would be that the majority of restaurants in this immediate area are absolutely abysmal and serve reheated garbage at absurd prices to rich elderly people who couldn’t care less. Otherwise it’s a good hotel choice for Manhattan if you don’t need to be near Midtown.

We sadly have never stayed there, but seeing Bobby Short's show at the Cafe Carlyle was an only-in-New-York moment that we'll never forget.

Have never stayed on any of our trips to NYC, but have visited the restaurant (amazing people watching at lunchtime) and Bemelmans countless times. Tempted to stay now that the rooms have been renovated. Pre-pandemic I could never justify the cost and no points earning when there are so many great points hotels to earn or burn points with fresher rooms. Now I feel like I have to check it out on our next trip.

Bemelmens bar is featured in “A rainy day in New York” and “On the rocks” and was a Bourdain favorite. Just about the best value $25 martini you can find.

$21 for 2 martinis (considering they give you a carafe to pour another one) is actually a very good bargain.

Maybe it's just the pics but the room and general decor doesn't look terribly nice. Could be a Grand Hyatt anywhere mid-Atlantic. Maybe you have to be there?

Carlyle brought back great memories for me. When I graduated from college and before I moved to LA, Amex Plat ran a deal for their one bedroom suite which I decided to book to celebrate my last night in NYC! Glad to see it has been refreshed although from the looks of things, they did a better job at Turtle Creek property.

Looking at the menu, it’s $21 per martini

It looks like covid axed the elevator attendant.

They obviously don’t value your patronage because they did not provide their signature monogrammed pillowcases.

While this hotel obviously has a reputation to rely on, I for one have never heard of it and would never pay 800 USD for what seems like a very average, outright bland hotel. Yes, nice, four stars and the room is not closet-size like many in NYC are. But there's definitely nothing out of the ordinary.

Also, I feel this review is written in an unusually neutral style, without much praise, so between the lines I'm reading that Ben wasn't thrilled or amazed by the place, but found it average. These travel agent rates are always a bad thing because naturally, despite all the "opinions are mine" disclaimers, it will feel awkward to write negative things after getting a 50 % discount.

However, based on this review, I'd definitely not stay here. Sorry.

Why are you sorry? Who are you apologising to?

The lack of discussion of service elements is telling.

My wife and I are in NYC four-plus times each year. We're there right now. While the upper east side might be a bit quieter, it comes with significant trade-offs. If you want to walk in the park, great. If you want to walk to most attractions, it's a lllooonnnggg walk. So, you take a cab and (depending on the time of day) you have to allow for extra time. Except cabs don't regularly pass by the property . . . so you need the Curb app or Uber or Lyft. And, if you want walking distance to an ATM . . . or a CVS or Walgreens . . . or anything . . . nope, it's too removed. And, if you want a view, well . . .

I love this place - so far the best art collections in the rooms and suites in town. During my last stay, my Premier Suite (two levels above entry-level suites but still on the lower-end of the spectrum as there are six more levels above) had two pieces of Henri Matisse, two Paul Klee and one Picasso...

My best hotel in NYC is the Mandarin Oriental at Columbus Circle with best views to the Park. Unfortunately they cannot get the restaurant „Asiate“ to reopen, but it closed pre-pandemic.

Nobody goes to the hotel for the gym and for the size of the lobby. The gym seemed adequate as hotel gyms go.

I guess it's just my way of saying, "I realise you did your best in trying to write a non-negative review about a property that gave you 50 % off, but unfortunately you kind of failed because of all the stuff that you left out this time and include in all other reviews."

The Surrey hotel across the street is my favorite nyc hotel, amazing rooftop patio, cant wait for it to reopen next year.

Yeah, I was going to say that Carlyle clientele aren't really going to care too much about the gym offering. Even if they are fitness fiends, they are more likely to book out to a studio or trainer or to have a reciprocal gym group membership.

I think Super means you are essentially getting two for that price since it comes with an "overage carafe."

Those are a nice touch. Stayed there with a wedding party and only the grooms got monogrammed pillowcases.

how old is that TV set?

I've stayed at the Carlyle a couple of times and I'm not a fan. For better or worse, the Carlyle's calling cards are their F&B program and their low-key security. If I attracted paparazzi or didn't revel in the joy of hunting down great food, I might like the property more, as the location is fantastic. But I put more value on space, technology, and design, all things other hotels in Manhattan do better for the same money.

That said, those commenters that are shocked at the prices, sizes, amenities, etc are pretty clearly out of touch with what things, in general, cost in Manhattan. $21 for a large top shelf martini in an iconic bar is good value for the Upper East Side. Similarly, $800/night might be Presidential Suite money in Indianapolis, but it's pretty average for Manhattan.

More importantly, I'd say that Manhattan hotels are better VALUE today than they were 20 years ago. 25 years ago, on my first visit to NYC as an adult, I stayed at the Park Lane Hotel, right on Central Park South. My room (in 1997 dollars) was $400/night and it was truly god-awful...small, weirdly shaped, slightly shabby, and, worst of all, HOT, with insufficient air-conditioning to match the oppressive summer heat. When I complained about my room, the desk staff was too happy to rudely point out that I was paying a significantly discounted corporate rate and should be happy to even have a room. To pay double that for a fully updated room in a premier location just a mile away with top notch service in 2022 is pretty damned good by my math.